Exercise 8: Complete the sentences by using Couldn

´t. Use the expressions in the list or your own words.

-Call you - Go to the movie

-Come to class - Light the candles
-Do my homework - Listen to music
-Get into my car - Wash his clothes
-Go swimming - Watch TV

1. I (couldn´t do my homework) last night because I was too tired.

2. I (couldn´t call you) yesterday because I lost your telephone

number.

3. I (couldn´t watch TV) last night because my TV set is broken.

4. Tom (couldn´t light the candles) because he didn´t have any

matches.

5. The teacher (couldn´t come to class) yesterday because he was

sick.

6. I (couldn´t listen to music) last night because my radio doesn´t

work.

7. Ken (couldn´t wash his clothes) because he didn´t have any

laundry soap.

8. We (couldn´t go swimming) yesterday because the water was

too cold

9. I (couldn´t get into my car) yesterday because I locked all the

doors and left the
keys inside.

10. I
(couldn´t go to the movie) last night because I had to study.
Exercise 9.- Oral Books Closed): Answer the
questions. Use “No, I couldn´t…because…”
1. Did you go shopping yesterday?
No, I couldn´t go shopping yesterday because I was sick.

2. Did you study last night?

No, I couldn´t study last night because I was too tired.

3. Did you go swimming yesterday?

No, I couldn´t go swimming yesterday because the water
was too cold.

4. Did you watch TV last night?

No, I couldn´t watch tv last night because my TV set is
broken.

5. Did you go to Fred´s party last night?

No, I couldn´t go to the Fred’s party last night because I
had to study.

6. Did you come to class yesterday?

No, I couldn´t come to class yesterday because I was
busy.

7. Did you go downtown yesterday afternoon?

No, I couldn´t go downtown yesterday afternoon because
I was busy.

8. Did you wash your clothes yesterday?

No, I couldn´t wash my clothes yesterday because I didn
´t have any laundry soap.

Exercise 10.- Oral (Books Closed): What are some negative

results in the given situations? Use can´t or couldn´t.
 1. (Mary) has a broken leg.
Mary can´t run in the race.

2. (Betsy) had the flu last week.

Betsy couldn´t come to class the last week.

3. (Ericka) has only (a small amount of money) in his

pocket/ in her purse today.
Ericka can´t buy a new car.

4. (Carla) doesn´t know how to use a computer.

Carla can´t use a computer.

5. Your parents had rules for you when you were a

child.
I couldn´t break these rules.

6. All of you are adults. You are not children

We are all adults. We can´t behave as children.

7. You didn´t know any English last year.

I couldn't write letters in English.

8. Millions of people in the world live in poverty.

They can´t eat daily.

Exercise 11: Correct the errors in the following sentences.

1. Could you to drive a car when you were thirteen
years old?
Could you drive a car when you were thirteen years old?

2. If your brother goes to the graduation party, he

can meets my sister
 if your brother goes to the graduation party, he could
meets my sister.

3. Mr. Lo was born in Hong Kong, but now he lives in

Canada. He cannot understand spoken English
before he moved to Canada, but now speak and
understand English very well.

Mr. Lo was born in Hong Kong, but now he lives in

Canada. He couldn´t understand spoken English before
he moved to Canada, but now speak and understand
English very well.

4. I couldn´t opened the door because I didn´t have

a key.
I couldn´t open the door because I didn´t have a key.

5. When Ernesto arrived at the airport last Tuesday,

he can´t find the right gate.
When Ernesto arrived at the airport last Tuesday, he
couldn´t find the right gate.

6. Please turn up the radio. I can´t to hear it.

Please turn up the radio. I can´t hear it.

Exercise 12: Complete the sentences. Use the expressions in

the list or your own words.

Buy it lift it
Do his homework reach the cookie jar
Eat it sleep
Go swimming take a break
1. The soup is too hot. I can´t eat it

2. The diamond ring is too expensive. I can´t buy it.

3. The weather is too cold. We can´t go swimming.

4. Peggy is too short. she can´t reach the cookie jar

5. Ali is too tired. He can´t do his homework.

6. I am too busy. I can´t take a break.

7. It’s too noisy in the dorm at night. I can´t sleep.

8. A piano is too heavy. I can´t lift it.